Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; remove the state geologist from certain surface mining provisions.

An Act To Amend Section 49-2-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Requirement That Changes To A Consolidation Plan Adopted By The Commission Must Be Approved By The Commission; To Amend Section 53-7-5, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Office Of Geology And Energy Resources Or Its Successor Office From The Definition Of Department; To Amend Section 53-7-41, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Allow The Head Of The Office Of Geology And Energy Resources To Participate In Certain Actions Taken By The Permit Board; To Expand The Powers Of The Executive Director For Certain Actions; To Amend Section 53-9-7, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Remove The Definition For State Geologist; To Amend Section 53-9-31, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Stipulate That The Amount Of Bond Shall Be Determined By The Permit Board After Consultation With Only The Department; To Amend Section 53-9-32, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Staff Of The Department To Prepare A Brief Upon Receipt Of A Complete Application For A Surface Coal Mining And Reclamation Operation; To Amend Section 53-9-33, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Department To Make An Assessment Of Certain Conditions Prior To Issuing A Permit Or Modification; To Amend Section 53-9-69, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Grant The Executive Director Or His Or Her Designee Sole Authority To Investigate Violations; To Amend Section 53-9-71, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Stipulate That The Staff Of The Department Shall Be Responsible For Surface Coal Mining Lands Review; To Amend Section 53-9-83, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Staff Of The Department To Consult With Surface Owners Whose Land Is Proposed To Be Included In Leasing Tracts; To Amend Section 53-9-105, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require The Department To Establish And Maintain A State Reclamation Program For Abandoned Mines; To Amend Sections 57-21-9 And 7-5-25, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Conform; And For Related Purposes.

Status

Passed

Signed or otherwise enacted

Status date

Mar 13, 2026

244 days ago

Current chamber

House of Representatives

Session

2026 Regular Session